Tape punching machine



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TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet m onmmq- M 0 I on m m m 46 4 -f 1,2 'INVENTOR.

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TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1948 w N m T T A JNVENTOR. 50/71/51. H TAYlO/Y May 16, 1950 s. M. TAYLOR 2,507,618

TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1948' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5/mua. r1. TA n0 Va/9W AYTGPNEY May 16 s, TAYLOR 2,507,618

TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gnaw IN VEN TOR.

5/9 7061, /7. 7A YL 04 yn/9M A 770K115 T Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I TAPE PUNCHING MACHINE Samuel M. Taylor, Chicago, 111.

Application March 5, 1948, Serial No. 13,219

3 Claims. (Cl. 164112) The present invention relates to tape punching machines and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and efficient mechanism for the punching of coded perforations in an intermittently moving tape whereby to permanently record data thereon.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means and mechanism for the effecting of the above mentioned object.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for manually actuating a key board forming a part of the present invention and novel means for transmitting such data to a punching mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for operating a gang punch.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel series of keying mechanisms associated with a series of manually operated levers whereby to selectively operate certain units of a gang punch.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel key board associated with a punching machine.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view with certain parts removed,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view disclosing certain details of the invention,

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line '|--'l of Figure 3,

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary views of certain details of construction,

Figure 11 is a plan view of a series of code bars on the keys utilized in the invention,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating an electrical system used in the employment of the tape punched by this device,

Figure 13 is a plan view of a visual signal board utilized by the device using the tape punched by this invention, and

Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line l4--l4 of Figure 1.

Generally there is provided a punching machine which forms a .part of a system, part of which is included in my copending application entitled Apparatus and method of taking field inventories and part of which is encompassed in a selective typing machine only a part of which is shown herewith and upon which I have filed on June 27, 1947, an application for Letters Patent, Serial #757,605. The present phase of the invention relates primarily to a punching mechanism for tape which tape is utilized in electrically operating a typing machine and an illuminated visual signal board. The punching mechanism consists essentially of a shaft upon which is revolubly mounted a series of circular plates having toothed edges. An oscillating keyboard is also mounted upon the shaft and is adapted to move the distance of one tooth over the circular discs. The keyboard comprises a plurality of laterally extending finger pieces having dependant keys which are adapted to selectively engage the teeth of the various discs. The keys are normally held in an inoperative position but may be manually depressed and pulled forward by the operator against the action of a spring which is adapted to automatically return the keyboard to its normal position. A series of plungers is mounted below the discs and each plunger is normally held in contact with a disc by means of a spring. The lower end of the plunger is provided with means for perforating a tape which is adapted to intermittently move thereunder. The plungers are pressed downwardly by the moving of the teeth over their upper ends thereby cutting a series of laterally extending openings in the tape in accordance with the particular key utilized in performing one operation of the keyboard.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a punching machine having a base It to which is afiixed a pair of side members ll supporting a transversely extending shaft l2 at their upper extremities. A series of discs l3 to 2|, inclusive, is revolubly mounted upon the shaft l2 and spacer members 22 are interposed between each of the plates.

Each of the plates 13 to 21, inclusive, is provided with teeth 24 at its outer periphery. It will be noted that the plates are adapted to move clockwise, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 8, and that, as thus viewed, the leading edge 25 of each tooth is cut in a gradual sloping manner and that the rear edge 26 of each tooth extends substantially diametrically to the plate.

A vertically extending .plunger '21 is reciprocally mounted beneath each of the plates and is provided in each case with a pawl-like head .28 .for engaging the teeth 24 of the plate beneath which it is mounted. The plunger is held in position by means of an upper supporting plate 29 and a lower supporting plate 30 and a compression spring 3| surrounds each of the plungers 21 and bears against the head 28 and the lower supporting plate 30 whereby to urge the head 28 into contact with its respective circular plate.

A pair of arcuate supporting members 32 are revolubly mounted upon the shaft l2 adjacent either end thereof and are held thereon by means of a bolt head 33 and a nut 34. A plurality of laterally extending shafts 35 interconnect the members 32 adjacent their periphery. Finger pieces 36 extend laterally between the members 32 and are pivotally mounted upon the shafts 35 and are each provided with a dependant code bar 37. Each shaft 35 is also provided with a coil spring 38 which is adapted to normally urge the finger piece and its associated key in an upward direction away from the plates [3 to 2|, inclusive.

A detent 39 is afiixed to each of the members 32 and is adapted to engage a dog 40 carried by each of the members II. A leaf spring 4| is affixed to each of the members H by means of screws 42 or the like and its free end is adapted to bear against a detent 43 inwardly extending from each of the members 32 to normally urge the key board in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 1 and 7. Space is provided between the plate 30 and base it] for the passage of a tape 44, preferably formed of paper, therethrough to a selective typing machine generally indicated at 45.

Intermittent movement of the tape 44 is effeoted by any conventional means controlled by the movement of arms 46 carried by one of the members 32.

The keys 3'! may be formed in the manner shown in Figure 11. It is desirable in each operation of the apparatus to punch marginal openings in the tape. This is effected by leaving marginal portions 48 in each key. In the present instance there has been provided a series of keys having seven intermediate portions which will be readily apparent by reference to the various keys shown in Figure 11 and which portions are numbered one to seven therein. A visual signal board 49 is provided as a part of the invention and through electrical contacts (not shown) operating through the perforations in the tape, is adapted to indicate the particular number or code character indicated by a row of perforations in electrically lighted windows 50 in said board. This is effectuated by the positions of the intervening openings. For example, to indicate the tape 44 will have been punched through the operation of key in Figure 11 which, by reference to Figure 12, will.be seen to complete a circuit through the lamp 52 which indicates 0 upon the board 49.

The operation of the punch machine per se is as follows: the operator will depress a selected finger piece 36 thereby causing engagement of its particular key 31 with two of the circular plates. The operator will then move the key board clockwise as viewed in Figures 1 and 7 until the key board comes into contact with the dog 40. This action will cause certain of the circular plates to be revolved and hence cause certain of the plungers 27 to be depressed thereby to perforate the tape 44. Upon releasing the fingers from the finger piece the key board will be moved in a counterclockwise direction by means of the leaf spring 4| at which time the arms 46 will move the tape 44 to the lever as viewed in Figure 7 to a position in readiness for the next operation. It will be noted that the head 28 will immediately revert to its uppermost position at the end of each punching operation due to the shape of the rear face of the particular tooth 24 which has just passed thereover, thus clearing the plunger from the tape to allow the subsequent movement thereof.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A punching machine comprising a base, a pair of vertical supports afiixed to the base, a shaft carried by the supports, a plurality of circular plates revolubly mounted on said shaft, teeth formed in the periphery of each plate, a vertically extending tape cutting plunger mounted for reciprocal movement beneath each of the plates, a head for each of the plungers, a spring for each plunger adapted to urge the head into contact with the teeth, a tape beneath said plungers, means for intermittently moving said tape and means for selectively moving groups of said plates.

2. A punching machine comprising a base, a pair of vertical supports affixed to the base, a shaft carried by the supports, a plurality of circular plates revolubly mounted on said shaft, teeth formed in the periphery of each plate, a vertically extending tape cutting plunger mounted for reciprocal movement beneath each of the plates, a tape beneath said plungers, means for intermittently moving each tape, a keyboard pivotally mounted upon the shaft, a plurality of code bars carried by said keyboard, a key for each of said code bars, a spring for each key for normally holding the code bar out of engagement with the plates and whereby the code bars may be moved into engagement with the teeth of certain plates against the action of the spring.

3. A punching machine comprising a base, a pair of vertical supports amxed to the base, a shaft carried by the supports, a plurality of circular plates revolubly mounted on said shaft, teeth formed in the periphery of each plate, a vertically extending tape cutting plunger mounted for reciprocal movement beneath each of the plates, a tape beneath said plungers, means for intermittently moving said tape, a keyboard including a pair of spaced segmental members pivotally mounted upon the shaft, a plurality of laterally extending shafts interconnecting the segmental members adjacent the peripheries thereof, a code bar pivotally mounted on each of said lateral shafts, a key for each of said code bars formed integrally therewith, a spring for each code bar for normally holding the code bar out of engagement with the plates and whereby the code bar may be moved into engagement with the teeth of certain plates against the action of the spring.

SAMUEL M. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,347,445 7 Crocco July 20, 1920 1,443,312 Day Jan. 23, 1923 2,177,788 Ross Oct. 31, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 158,083 Great Britain Jan. 27, 1921 421,426 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1934 

